Services

Friends and family rally round to help Darwen couple

THE family of a Darwen couple have rallied round to raise money in a bid to help them have children.

Brad and Gemma Meadows, of Rudyard Drive, have been through a decade-long ordeal and have so far been unable to have a baby.

The couple have undergone all the free IVF treatments they are allowed in Blackburn with Darwen and their desperation to start a family has led them to a top doctor in London, at a cost of thousands of pounds.

Brad, 30, a teacher in Bolton, said: “We have been trying for 10 years and it has been really hard.

“We had three goes of IVF, and each one takes eight to 10 months, but we were unsuccessful.”

During IVF, the couple underwent tests which showed 29-year-old Gemma’s body was attacking the implanted embryos and preventing her from getting pregnant.

Brad said: “Gemma has got a superhuman immune system which just kills off everything.”

The couple have started treatment with the new doctor in London where they are hopeful new techniques will prove successful.

Brad said: “A lot of stuff is in its infancy and some of these techniques are at the forefront of technology.

“We are with an internationally renowned doctor in London.”

But internationally-renowned doctors cost money, and so far Brad and Gemma have spent more £13,500 on this cycle alone.

Brad said: “It could well be £20,000 by the time we have finished.

“Most of that has been raised by family members.

“We have organised all sorts of events, including taking part in Darwen Rotary’s Tower Trudge.

“But we have spent everything we have raised and we need more money.

“Everyone has been really supportive. It has been brilliant.”

Brad said the couple had considered their options if they were unable to conceive.

He said: “The options are surrogacy or adoption, but obviously we would rather have our own baby.

Comments

I take it then the house for now Rudyard drive is up for sale then to fund this treatment.2 for 5p ridesagain

I take it then the house for now Rudyard drive is up for sale then to fund this treatment.

Score: -5

grumpyoldlady
11:42am Sun 22 Jun 14

My heart bleeds for couples like this who desperately want to be parents and hopefully one day will be excellent ones. On the other hand my heart also bleeds for the innocent children of some parents who have child after child simply because they are too ignorant to use contraception and are incapable of caring for their offspring. Such is the world.

My heart bleeds for couples like this who desperately want to be parents and hopefully one day will be excellent ones. On the other hand my heart also bleeds for the innocent children of some parents who have child after child simply because they are too ignorant to use contraception and are incapable of caring for their offspring. Such is the world.grumpyoldlady

My heart bleeds for couples like this who desperately want to be parents and hopefully one day will be excellent ones. On the other hand my heart also bleeds for the innocent children of some parents who have child after child simply because they are too ignorant to use contraception and are incapable of caring for their offspring. Such is the world.

Score: 16

[deleted]
6:17pm Sun 22 Jun 14

[deleted]

So then I take it that they have sold the property on Rudyard drive to help fund the treatment, or do you just want others to pay for it. :-)2 for 5p ridesagain

So then I take it that they have sold the property on Rudyard drive to help fund the treatment, or do you just want others to pay for it. :-)

Score: -4

Mum0f3
9:13pm Sun 22 Jun 14

2 for 5p ridesagain how incredibly rude of you!!! Why should they give up there home to find something that is a medically problem, when we pay into a NHS!! I personally know this couple and it is only in the later stages they have required help, they aren't asking people to pay for their treatment we have enjoyed many functions where money is raised to help them achieve their dream of being parents!!!! Please show a bit of respect

2 for 5p ridesagain how incredibly rude of you!!! Why should they give up there home to find something that is a medically problem, when we pay into a NHS!! I personally know this couple and it is only in the later stages they have required help, they aren't asking people to pay for their treatment we have enjoyed many functions where money is raised to help them achieve their dream of being parents!!!! Please show a bit of respectMum0f3

2 for 5p ridesagain how incredibly rude of you!!! Why should they give up there home to find something that is a medically problem, when we pay into a NHS!! I personally know this couple and it is only in the later stages they have required help, they aren't asking people to pay for their treatment we have enjoyed many functions where money is raised to help them achieve their dream of being parents!!!! Please show a bit of respect

Score: 5

darwencoms
9:21pm Sun 22 Jun 14

Has anyone asked you to pay for it( 2 for 5p ridesagain)???? not that it has anything to do with you but if they sold the house they live in where would they live you automaticly prosume they have paid for the house may be they should sell there house quit there jobs and go on benifits like a lot of people in darwen then maybe you could have something to comment on

Has anyone asked you to pay for it( 2 for 5p ridesagain)???? not that it has anything to do with you but if they sold the house they live in where would they live you automaticly prosume they have paid for the house may be they should sell there house quit there jobs and go on benifits like a lot of people in darwen then maybe you could have something to comment ondarwencoms

Has anyone asked you to pay for it( 2 for 5p ridesagain)???? not that it has anything to do with you but if they sold the house they live in where would they live you automaticly prosume they have paid for the house may be they should sell there house quit there jobs and go on benifits like a lot of people in darwen then maybe you could have something to comment on

Score: 6

khakkij
9:46am Mon 23 Jun 14

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuinekhakkij

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine

Score: 1

BuckoTheMoose
7:33am Mon 23 Jun 14

I've got two things to say on this subject:

1) If you eventually have a baby (Or multiple babies as often happens after treatment) you will still need a lot of money. Raising a child costs a small fortune in itself.

2) Don't automatically think that being childless is a bad thing. It isn't.

I've got two things to say on this subject:
1) If you eventually have a baby (Or multiple babies as often happens after treatment) you will still need a lot of money. Raising a child costs a small fortune in itself.
2) Don't automatically think that being childless is a bad thing. It isn't.BuckoTheMoose

I've got two things to say on this subject:

1) If you eventually have a baby (Or multiple babies as often happens after treatment) you will still need a lot of money. Raising a child costs a small fortune in itself.

2) Don't automatically think that being childless is a bad thing. It isn't.

Score: 4

GracesDad
9:35am Mon 23 Jun 14

As much as I sympathise with this couple, I don't think there should any financial assistance given for IVF treatment by the NHS. The fact is, there are people dying because they cannot get the treatements for their illnesses due to lack of funding yet we are trying to help people have a baby? Where's the sense in that?

I would not be donating my hard-earned to such a cause.

As much as I sympathise with this couple, I don't think there should any financial assistance given for IVF treatment by the NHS. The fact is, there are people dying because they cannot get the treatements for their illnesses due to lack of funding yet we are trying to help people have a baby? Where's the sense in that?
I would not be donating my hard-earned to such a cause.GracesDad

As much as I sympathise with this couple, I don't think there should any financial assistance given for IVF treatment by the NHS. The fact is, there are people dying because they cannot get the treatements for their illnesses due to lack of funding yet we are trying to help people have a baby? Where's the sense in that?

I would not be donating my hard-earned to such a cause.

Score: 8

Good call
7:14pm Mon 23 Jun 14

khakkij wrote…

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine

The reason that they shouldn't receive help from the National Health Service is because having a child is something that they want as opposed to something they need.

A healthcare system is meant to provide essential care for illness and injury and to treat conditions, not pay for fertility treatment.

[quote][p][bold]khakkij[/bold] wrote:
thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine[/p][/quote]The reason that they shouldn't receive help from the National Health Service is because having a child is something that they want as opposed to something they need.
A healthcare system is meant to provide essential care for illness and injury and to treat conditions, not pay for fertility treatment.Good call

khakkij wrote…

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine

The reason that they shouldn't receive help from the National Health Service is because having a child is something that they want as opposed to something they need.

A healthcare system is meant to provide essential care for illness and injury and to treat conditions, not pay for fertility treatment.

Score: 3

khakkij
11:10pm Mon 23 Jun 14

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuinekhakkij

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine

Score: -3

Sunflower82
9:50pm Mon 23 Jun 14

But it's ok for the NHS to bail smokers and druggies out of trouble is it? Don't be so selfish. People have the right to IVF treatment they pay their taxes so why not.

But it's ok for the NHS to bail smokers and druggies out of trouble is it? Don't be so selfish. People have the right to IVF treatment they pay their taxes so why not.Sunflower82

But it's ok for the NHS to bail smokers and druggies out of trouble is it? Don't be so selfish. People have the right to IVF treatment they pay their taxes so why not.

Score: -3

Good call
10:18pm Mon 23 Jun 14

Sunflower82 wrote…

But it's ok for the NHS to bail smokers and druggies out of trouble is it? Don't be so selfish. People have the right to IVF treatment they pay their taxes so why not.

Why resort to name calling, instead, explain why the NHS should pay for something that isn't life/health threatening. Treatment in relation to smokers (an essential service-illness) is more or less self-financing, same with alcohol.

[quote][p][bold]Sunflower82[/bold] wrote:
But it's ok for the NHS to bail smokers and druggies out of trouble is it? Don't be so selfish. People have the right to IVF treatment they pay their taxes so why not.[/p][/quote]Why resort to name calling, instead, explain why the NHS should pay for something that isn't life/health threatening. Treatment in relation to smokers (an essential service-illness) is more or less self-financing, same with alcohol.Good call

Sunflower82 wrote…

But it's ok for the NHS to bail smokers and druggies out of trouble is it? Don't be so selfish. People have the right to IVF treatment they pay their taxes so why not.

Why resort to name calling, instead, explain why the NHS should pay for something that isn't life/health threatening. Treatment in relation to smokers (an essential service-illness) is more or less self-financing, same with alcohol.

Score: -1

BuckoTheMoose
6:57am Tue 24 Jun 14

khakkij wrote…

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine

You've just listed a lot of things that are wrong and used them to suggest that adding another wrong will be right.

[quote][p][bold]khakkij[/bold] wrote:
thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine[/p][/quote]You've just listed a lot of things that are wrong and used them to suggest that adding another wrong will be right.BuckoTheMoose

khakkij wrote…

thats sounds right of ignorant people., why shouldnt they be given help by NHS., young kids never done a days work., have kids., get free houses., money to do them up., free everything., alcoholics get extra., foreigners., any race., so why not this poor couple., who have probably worked and paid into it., this country is to busy with the scumbags., and anyone that comes into country., get a grip and back our people up, who are genuine

You've just listed a lot of things that are wrong and used them to suggest that adding another wrong will be right.

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